AfriGeneas Military Research Forum

I've seen similar images from other regions. The impression I draw from the info I've found is that there was somewhat of a chaotic element surrounding the Selective Service during WW1.

The registration process itself doesn't seem to have been very structured at all. Basically you got your notice, went to your local board and signed the forms, with no apparent separation of races (other than on paper)at that stage (basically you got in line and were taken in turn).

At the time of call-up and examination seems to be when segregation was put in place (hence the photos of all white or all black groups). From that point onward the races were separated, although some of the depot brigades were mixed to the extent of having white and black companies.

I once spoke to a vet who was from the Richmond, VA area. He was registered with his local board but was in Kansas City on business when his callup notice came. His family had telegraphed him of it's arrival and he went to a draft board in KC to ask what he needed to do. They told him to come back at noon the next day, at which point he was placed in an induction group and put on a train to Camp Funston.